Mani is accused of taking a bribe.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Kerala politics witnessed dramatic scenes today after the Finance Minister KM Mani, who is the supremo of Kerala Congress (M), a decisive ally of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), resisted to render his resignation after the Vigilance Court on Monday ordered further investigation into the graft case involving bar owners and Mani.
Even though the congress party members and other allies supporting the government asked for the resignation of Mani, the veteran politician who completed 50-years in politics said he is not willing to step down over an allegation that has no solid evidence against him.
Later in the evening, Mani decided to tender his resignation but asked PJ Joseph, minister and a member of the Kerala Congress to resign along with him as an attempt to pull down the UDF. Joseph, who brushed aside Mani’s request, met his supports in the party and decided to extend support to the UDF.
As pressure mounted, Mani met media persons and announced that he is resigning as he has high respect to the judiciary of the country.
Earlier Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters that “It will be unfair for the right of an accused…who cannot be treated as convict or semi-convict.”
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president VM Sudheeran while talking to the press said discussions are in full swing and asked to “wait and see”.
Earlier, the Left Democratic Front (LDF), opposition in the Kerala assembly, had decided to go on indefinite hunger strike till Mani’s resigns. The leader of the opposition, V S Achuthanandan, while asking for the resignation of Mani also attacked the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for being lenient to a corrupt minister. He also expressed his doubt whether the Chief Minister is afraid to pick Mani as he too is involved in the bribery scandal.
The incident leading to the current events started last year when an FIR was filed against Mani by the vigilance department in the wake of ‘quick verification’ notice. The Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners’ Association working President Biju Ramesh had alleged that Mani had accepted a Rs. 1 crore bribe for renewal of licences of more than 400 Indian Made Foreign Liquor bars in the state.
The UDF Government has been smeared in corruption cases since it came to power four years back. The case involving Saritha S Nair, which popular came to be known as “Solar Case” had even reached the private office of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Joppen, Chief Minister’s private secretary was later arrested along with Chandi’s gunman Salim Raj for helping the accused in the solar case.